NocoBase

Posted on Sep 9 • Originally published at nocobase.com

6 No-Code Tools to Build a Flexible ITAM System

#opensource #itam #nocode #lowcode

Originally published at https://www.nocobase.com/en/blog/no-code-itam-system.

Introduction

Professional IT Asset Management (ITAM) tools such as Lansweeper, AssetSonar, and Bluetally are already highly mature. So, why should we still consider using no-code tools to build an IT asset management system?

In environments with large-scale assets, strict compliance requirements, and a need to minimize manual maintenance, these dedicated ITAM tools are undoubtedly the best choice.

However, in reality, not every company is suited to adopt these platforms directly. For small to mid-sized businesses or teams with unique business workflows, a flexible, low-cost, and fast-to-deploy solution can be more practical.

This is where no-code platforms offer real value: although they may lack some of the advanced automation features of professional ITAM tools, they excel in simplicity and high customizability. They allow you to adapt asset management to your specific workflows and integrate it seamlessly into daily business operations.

Core Features of a No-Code ITAM System

After understanding the role of no-code platforms in ITAM, the next question is: What core features can they cover?

Although most no-code solutions cannot provide built-in automated asset discovery like professional ITAM products (some allow third-party integrations), they are powerful enough to handle everyday asset management for most organizations.

Here’s a typical feature checklist:

Asset Registry – Centralized management of all IT assets, including hardware, software, licenses, and contracts, reducing data silos across spreadsheets and systems.
Lifecycle Management – Track every stage from procurement to allocation, maintenance, and retirement, ensuring full visibility into asset usage.
User & Access Control – Assign asset owners and users clearly, while restricting access based on roles and responsibilities.
License & Contract Tracking – Avoid missed renewals or expirations, reduce compliance risks, and control extra costs.
Reporting & Analytics – Create customized dashboards and reports to monitor utilization, costs, and depreciation, supporting better decision-making.
Automation – Use workflows to trigger actions automatically, such as sending renewal reminders, generating work orders, or approving requests.

If your team currently manages IT assets using Excel or Google Sheets, switching to a no-code platform can be an ideal transitional step.

Moreover, many platforms support extended customization, such as:

Integrating with third-party tools for network scanning
Connecting with finance systems for cost tracking
Enabling mobile asset registration with barcode scanning

Recommended No-Code Tools for ITAM

If you’re considering building an IT asset management system on a no-code platform, here are six tools worth exploring. Each has unique strengths and is suitable for different business sizes and requirements.

NocoBase

Website: https://www.nocobase.com/

GitHub: https://github.com/nocobase/nocobase

NocoBase is an open-source, data-model-driven no-code platform with a plugin-based architecture. Every feature can be extended via plugins, giving teams full control over customization.

It supports granular role-based access control (RBAC), field-level and row-level data isolation, workflow automation, and integration with multiple data sources via APIs or plugins. As a fully open-source platform, businesses can extend its capabilities while maintaining low deployment costs.

ITAM Advantages:

Flexible Asset Modeling – Customize asset tables (hardware, software, licenses, contracts) without being limited by fixed fields.
Multi-Role Collaboration – Provide different views and permissions for IT, finance, and admin teams to enable cross-department workflows.
Workflow Automation – Automate contract renewals, service ticket generation, and asset approval processes.
System Integrations – Seamlessly connect with MDM, finance, and HR systems to unify business processes.
Cost Efficiency – Unlike ITAM tools costing €300+ per month , the open-source edition is free to start, reducing pilot and deployment costs.

Best Use Cases:

Ideal for small and mid-sized companies that:

Need to replace spreadsheet-based asset management
Require flexible data modeling
Prefer self-hosted deployment for data security
Want to integrate ITAM deeply with finance, HR, and ticketing systems

Airtable

Website: https://airtable.com/

Airtable is well-known as a spreadsheet-style no-code platform. Its interface is similar to Excel, making it easy for teams transitioning from spreadsheets. It also offers built-in IT asset tracking templates, so you can start quickly without custom development.

ITAM Advantages:

Seamless Excel Replacement – Perfect for teams currently using spreadsheets for asset management.
Prebuilt Templates – Get started instantly with ready-to-use ITAM templates.
Real-Time Collaboration – Multiple users can edit and manage assets simultaneously.
Simple Notifications – Set up reminders for contract renewals or return deadlines.
Cloud-Based Access – Manage assets from anywhere via web or mobile apps.

Best Use Cases:

Airtable is better suited for lightweight ITAM systems. However:

It lacks field-level permissions
It doesn’t support automated discovery
It has limited integration with enterprise IT infrastructure

For open-source alternatives, consider NocoDB:

Top 7 OSS Airtable Alternatives Ranked by GitHub Stars

Glide

Website: https://www.glideapps.com/

Glide lets you turn spreadsheets into mobile apps instantly, making it ideal for on-the-go IT asset management. IT teams and field engineers can register, scan, and track assets directly from their phones.

ITAM Advantages:

Mobile-First – Apps work seamlessly on both iOS and Android devices.
Barcode & QR Scanning – Quickly register or locate assets during audits.
Spreadsheet-Powered – Uses Google Sheets or Excel as the data source.
Lightweight Automation – Set up simple alerts and reminders.
Fast Deployment – Build apps without a dedicated development team.

Best Use Cases:

Perfect for teams needing mobile ITAM solutions, such as:

On-site equipment registration
Office asset check-in/out
Regular physical inventory audits

Appsmith

Website: https://www.appsmith.com/

Appsmith is an open-source low-code platform designed for developers who need deep data integrations and custom dashboards. It’s particularly useful if your ITAM system needs to connect with existing tools like CMDBs, ticketing systems, or financial databases.

ITAM Advantages:

Powerful Data Integrations – Connect directly to databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB) and APIs (REST, GraphQL).
Custom Dashboards – Build asset tables, reports, and visualizations with drag-and-drop components.
High Interactivity – Execute complex queries and advanced filtering easily.
Fully Open-Source – Extend functionality with custom development.

Best Use Cases:

Best suited for tech-savvy teams who need custom asset dashboards and tight integrations with internal systems. Not recommended for teams without technical expertise.

Budibase

Website: https://budibase.com/

Budibase is an open-source no-code/low-code platform focused on building internal business tools quickly. Compared to Airtable and Glide, Budibase offers better database integration and role-based permissions, making it suitable for small to mid-sized organizations.

ITAM Advantages:

Multiple Data Sources – Connects to PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, REST APIs, and more.
Built-In Forms & Workflows – Streamline asset entry, allocation, and repair requests.
Role-Based Permissions – Control who can access or edit different asset data.
Self-Hosting Support – Keep sensitive asset data under full control.

Best Use Cases:

Great for companies that need a secure internal ITAM system integrated with existing databases but don’t require complex workflows or large-scale automation.

Retool

Website: https://retool.com/

Retool is a low-code platform popular among developers for building custom internal tools. Unlike Airtable and Glide, Retool focuses on deep integrations and advanced customization.

ITAM Advantages:

Extensive Integrations – Natively supports hundreds of databases and services (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Salesforce, Slack, etc.).
Flexible UI Builder – Drag-and-drop interface combined with custom JavaScript logic.
Developer-Friendly – Ideal for building complex ITAM dashboards and interactive tools.
Cloud & Self-Hosting Options – Choose between SaaS or on-premise deployment.

Best Use Cases:

Best for mid-sized to large enterprises that want to integrate ITAM deeply with MDM, financial systems, and ticketing platforms. However, Retool can be costly for smaller teams; consider open-source alternatives for cost-sensitive projects.

Conclusion

Professional ITAM tools excel at automated discovery and compliance management, making them ideal for large enterprises.
No-code platforms provide flexibility, affordability, and workflow integration, enabling businesses to build customized ITAM systems quickly.

In practice, the best approach often combines both:

Use professional ITAM tools for network scanning and asset discovery
Integrate the data into a no-code platform for permission control, workflow management, and reporting

The future of IT asset management isn’t about finding a one-size-fits-all product but rather assembling the right mix of tools based on your business size, budget, and integration needs.

With no-code solutions, teams can finally escape expensive subscriptions and rigid customizations—turning ITAM from a cost center into a strategic driver of operational efficiency and business value.

Related reading:

DEV Community

6 No-Code Tools to Build a Flexible ITAM System

Introduction

Core Features of a No-Code ITAM System

Recommended No-Code Tools for ITAM

NocoBase

Airtable

Glide

Appsmith

Budibase

Retool

Conclusion

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